Malaria Situation in Zimbabwe as at 2016
Below are the talking points on a speech given by the Minister of health and child Care. This speech provides an outlook and summary of the malaria situation on the ground in Zimbabwe.
Background
Over half
of the population of Zimbabwe is at risk of malaria. Transmission is
generally seasonal, starting from around November to the end of May, and
the peak period is between March and May. Malaria accounts for between 30
to 50% of outpatient attendances in the moderate to high transmission
districts, especially during the peak transmission period.
Malaria is
a disease of public health importance contributing significantly to
the illness and deaths of pregnant women and children.
Malaria
has a direct impact on a country’s human resources. Not only does it
result in loss of life and loss of productivity due to illness and
premature death, it also affects children’s school attendance and social
development through both absenteeism and permanent neurological damages
associated with severe episodes of the disease
The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Work
continues to strive to improve the performance of the malaria control
programme, hence the programme has recently completed a Malaria Programme
Review (MPR). The MPR assessed the malaria epidemiology and
progress towards programme impact targets.It also reviewed the
effectiveness and sustainability of malaria programme financing as well as
the effectiveness of the malaria service delivery and support systems. The
MPR has enabled the programme to refocus its strategic direction to
improve operational performance.
The
Government of Zimbabwe uses scientific tools and strategies to fight
malaria. These strategies and tools include:
*Vector
Control (indoor residual spraying, use of long lasting insecticidal nets,
larviciding, environmental manipulation and use of repellents)
*Prompt
diagnosis with rapid diagnostic test kits and microscopy and
treatment of confirmed cases with effective medicines
*Early
detection, containment and prevention of epidemics
*Strengthening
of local capacities in basic operational research for development of
interventions
*Advocacy,
social mobilization and programme communication to enhance involvement and
participation of communities and other stakeholders in malaria control
initiatives
*Surveillance,
monitoring and evaluationand operational research
Progress
areas
Malaria incidence declined by 79% from
136/1000 population in 2000 to 29/1000 population in 2015 surpassing the MDG
targets of 75%.
Mortality declined by 57% from 1069 deaths in 2003 to 462
deaths in 2015. This achievement will go a long way in positioning our country
for the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Testing
rates of suspected malaria cases with Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) and
microscopy currently stands at 99%.
Malaria diagnostic commodities and
malaria medicines available at community level through village health
workers to ensure universal access to effective treatment
The
programme successfully changed the treatment policy for malaria by
introducing new medicines for the treatment of severe malaria that include
pre-referral artesunate suppositories for community level,artesunate
injection at health facility level
The
districts implementing pre-elimination activities increased from 7 in 2014
to 20 in 2015.
Pre-elimination activities are implemented in districts
that will have attained malaria incidence of less than 5/1000 population.
In pre-elimination districts malaria becomes a notifiable disease
and every case is investigated and household members and neighbours
are screened for malaria.
The
country managed to spray all 45 districts targeted for indoor residual
spraying during the 2015/2016 spraying season thereby protecting 96% of
the targeted population
Use of a
combination distribution strategies ( mass and routine distribution in
some selected districts) has seen the country reach a long lasting net
(LLIN) possession of 98% following a mass distribution in 2014 and this
year there is going to another mass distribution
Intensification
of Behaviour Change Communication through the use of multimedia channels
(print, electronic and interpersonal communication) to improve uptake of
strategies.
The country continues to collaborate with the
neighbouring countries on malaria prevention and control with an aim of
harmonizing strategies and malaria messages and synchronizing
implementation.
Through regional collaboration and commitment SADC managed to
get support from the Global Fund through the successful Elimination 8 (E8)
Global Fund Grant.
This has guaranteed the funds for addressing cross border
collaboration activities
Challenges
These include:
Reemergence
of malaria vectors (Anopheles
funestus) that are resistance to Pyrethroids -cheaper IRS
chemicals. This has seen the country introducing Organophosphates which
are more effective but very expensive
Mobile
communities that move to and from areas with different malaria endemicity
for socio-economic reasons such as cross border traders, artisanal miners,
long distance truck drivers.
References
Other related articles on Malaria on this blog
2. Using chickens in the fight against malaria: New Research
3. antimicrobial-resistance-drug resistance in Zimbabwe
4. Focus on malaria: tea a cure for malaria
http://uzmpilobranch.blogspot.com/2015/04/focus-on-malaria-tea-cure-for-malaria.html
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